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The Archivist: Sweet guinea pig found a home at the Oklahoma City Zoo

Mary Phillips: Good-tempered guinea pig gets home at Oklahoma City Zoo in 1927.

BY MARY PHILLIPS mphillips@opubco.com •
Published: April 1, 2013

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Here's a story from The Oklahoman on Nov. 5, 1927, that begins with a life lesson.

“You can never tell what a tremendous bearing a sweet smile and a gentle disposition may have on your entire career.

“Consider for example, the case of Rex, the little brown guinea pig in the city chemist's office, named after Rex Cleveland, city pure food inspector.

“Several weeks ago when ten little guinea pigs, the world's most helpless animals, arrived at the chemist's office Rex immediately showed signs of being friendly. While the other little pigs would scurry away in high terror when anyone approached their box, Rex plainly showed he was not afraid. He would walk boldly up and eat lettuce out of your hand, and he let it be known if you wanted to rub him behind the ears, it was alright with him. In fact he liked it.

“As a result, no diphtheria tests have been made upon Rex. While his little playmates suffer with sore throats and have high fevers, as result of inoculations, Rex just scampers about as happy as he can be, doing nothing all day but stuffing his little stomach with nice fresh lettuce and getting his ears rubbed.

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Consider for example, the case of Rex, the little brown guinea pig in the city chemist's office ... Several weeks ago when ten little guinea pigs, the world's most helpless animals, arrived at the chemist's office, Rex immediately showed signs of being friendly.”